Korg Kaossilator Pro Dynamic Synthesizer

Built around the now-classic X-Y touch pad model, the Korg Kaossilator Pro is a powerhouse synthesizer, loop-sampler, live performance, music production wonder-tool. Whether you're an electronic musician looking to add some expressive panache to your rig, a DJ who'd like to do some live remixing, or a producer looking for new sources of inspiration, the Kaossilator Pro is just what you've been looking for.

First came the Kaoss Pad, an effects processor with a revolutionary touch-sensitive X-Y interface that made sound manipulation more interactive and expressive than ever before. Then came the Kaossilator, a pocket-sized synth with basic looping capabilities which incorporated that same intuitive X-Y surface. Now there's the Korg Kaossilator Pro.

Synth Virtuosity, No Lessons Required

The secret to the Kaossilator Pro's power is its touch-sensitive X-Y pad. Both fun and powerful, the interface allows for both pitch change and parameter modulation with a single gesture. For example, you can play a bass-line octave slide and control a filter sweep with a single finger movement. This makes each of the 200 internal synth and acoustic instrument sounds extremely expressive as well as extremely fun to play. In addition, Korg has added an Electribe-inspired Gate Arpeggiator -- duration and speed controllable via slider -- that transforms any sound into a dramatic and dynamic rhythmic effect. Plus, since the KO Pro's sound engine can be locked to any key and just about any mode (Major, minor, Phrygian, Lydian, Dorian, etc.), you don't need years of lessons to improvise a part. Just tap and slide away on the X-Y pad and let your natural musical intuition take over.

Four Sound-On-Sound Loop Banks

This is where things get interesting. The Kaossiltor Pro is capable of recording four sets of four-bar looped phrases, each with sound-on-sound over-dubbing capabilities, meaning you can build complex, layered grooves from the ground up using only the KO Pro. Pick one of the built-in drum grooves or dynamic kits and loop it. Add a bass-synth on the next recording pass, then an atmospheric pad, trumpet stab, piano flourish, conga pattern, and so on and so on. Because the KO Pro lets you record different sounds to the four different loop banks, you can pull off dynamic, improvised performances by switching between or turning on and off loops, or adjusting their volume or length independently. All loops are tempo synched to each other, making for easy DJ-style sets without any additional gear. Save your favorite loop setups to external media with a handy SD Card slot.

Plays Alone Or With Friends

Not only can the Korg Kaossilator Pro sample its own internal sounds, but a stereo line-in and microphone input let you loop and sample audio from just about anywhere and incorporate it into your KO Pro performances. The mic input has a dedicated gain control, and there's even a cool vocoder on board (which you can manipulate with the X-Y pad) for classic robo-vocals. External line-level sources can be anything from a turntable to a CD deck to an MP3 player, or you can input additional sequencers and drum machines and keep everything synched via the KO Pro's integrated MIDI Routing. Finally, the Kaossilator Pro features a USB output for connecting to a computer and controlling instruments and plug-in effects in your DAW of choice with the expressive X-Y pad.

Much more than a musical novelty, the Korg Kaossilator Pro is a radical tool of improvisation and invention. Use it in performance, use it in the studio, use it alone or as part of a MIDI rig, use it to astonish your audience, use it to rethink your musical process form top to bottom -- and use zZounds to get yours!

Korg Kaossilator Pro Dynamic Synthesizer

Announcing the Kaossilator Pro - a supercharged version of the palm-sized Kaossilator, reborn as a powerful track-making tool and loaded with live performance power.

As a trailblazer among the "instrumental gadgets" that allowed anyone to easily create melodies and phrases, the Kaossilator gained a strong and dedicated user base, even among those without any performing experience. Today, the Kaossilator continues to be enormously popular. Retaining these revolutionary features - while adding a wide variety of new ones as well - is the Kaossilator Pro. With 200 sound programs, an Electribe-inspired gate arpeggiator, and four loop recording banks that can even record external audio sources, the Kaossilator Pro is packed with features that make it ideal for both live performance and premium productions. In addition, USB connectivity with your computer and SD card memory storage allow the Kaossilator Pro to be used not just for improvised performances, but also as a superbly intuitive, track-making music production tool.

Features

- KAOSS X-Y touchpad offers intuitive, realtime control
- 200 sounds covering modern synth sounds such as lead and bass, and diverse acoustic sounds from piano to trumpet and beyond
- PCM samples provide dramatic drum kits and ready to rock percussion patterns
- Vocoder programs deliver scintillating vocal effects
- Access up to eight of your favorite sounds instantly using the assignable Program Memory buttons
- Loop Recording can layer both internal Program sounds and external audio overdubs
- Four Loop Record Banks each allow up to four measures of loop recording, with easy muting that allows expressive realtime layering and DJ-Style re-mixing - ideal for live performance.
- Gate Arpeggiator repeatedly triggers sounds in sync with the tempo. The slider controls either the gate time or gate speed.
- Choose a key and select one of 31 musical scales to easily create musical phrases. Limit the X-Y pad's note range for even more control
- Loop data, user settings and Program Memories can be stored on SD card
- Dedicated software lets you manage loop data, MIDI assignments, and user settings from your computer
- Performs double-duty as a MIDI controller for external equipment or software applications

Intuitive X-Y touchpad

Using touchpad is highly intuitive - simply rub, stroke, or tap it to instantly create complex phrases with a single finger. Responding instantly to these gestures, the Kaossilator Pro creates spontaneous changes that were difficult to produce on synthesizers of the past. Horizontal motions control the pitch, while the vertical axis can control tone parameters such as cutoff, feedback, or modulation depth. This makes it easy for anyone to create entirely original sounds and musical phrases.

200 exciting programs

Korg's synthesizer technology - acclaimed by top musicians around the world - has been carefully distilled into the Kaossilator Pro. The versatile array of pro-level sounds includes synths, drums, FX and other instruments. These sounds complement all styles of electronic and dance music including techno, house, breaks, hip hop, R&B, reggae, and electro. There are also numerous acoustic instruments such as piano, trumpet, and guitar, providing a further boost to your expressive resources. You can assign your favorite programs to the eight Program Memory buttons for instant recall, ensuring that your live performances will be smooth.

Extensively enhanced drum sounds

Rhythm can be the most important element when creating a phrase. In addition to the modeling synthesis borrowed from the original Kaossilator, the Kaossilator Pro provides a PCM sound generator as well, offering even more realistic drum sounds arranged in kits across the X-Y pad. There are twenty different one-shot sounds for kick, snare, and hi-hat etc., as well as twenty-five rhythm loop patterns to spark your creativity.

Vocoder programs for creative audio effects

The Kaossilator Pro features a mic input jack and fifteen types of vocoder programs, making it easy to achieve unique sound effects, create robot voices and more.

Thirty-one scales for musical expressiveness

The thirty-one types cover a range from chromatic scales to major, minor, blues and beyond. By specifying a scale and key, you can use a single finger to play perfect melodies and phrases that would be difficult to play even on a keyboard. There are also special scales such as Spanish, Ryukyu, and Raga, letting you play phrases that have a distinctive flavor. Another boost in expressive power is provided by the Note Range function, which lets you specify the range of pitches available on the touchpad from a single octave up to eight octaves.

Gate Arpeggiator provides tightly sync'ed grooves

Inspired by the EMX-1 and ESX-1 Electribes, the Gate Arpeggiator allows you to play a pattern of sounds that are always in sync with the tempo, generating phrases that defy imagination. The Kaossilator Pro's slider can control the gate time or gate speed, allowing even more complex phrases to be produced. Tempos can be set manually, or on the fly using the Tap Tempo function.

Loop Recording with unlimited overdubbing

Loop Recording can be set for up to four measures /16 beats. Your Kaossilator Pro musical performances can be recorded into one of the Loop Recorder Banks. By adding (overdubbing) additional sounds one at a time, you can create amazing loop phrases by repeating the cycle of selecting a sound, playing a phrase, and recording the sound over and over again.

Four Loop Recording Banks allow DJ-style performances

The Kaossilator Pro provides four Loop Recording Banks. These banks can be combined for virtually infinite performance possibilities. Each of the four loop banks can host infinite overdubs. In addition, each bank can be muted or un-muted, its volume adjusted, and its loop length changed, making dynamic live performances easy for anyone. An unneeded loop can be erased during playback, and a one recorded, so there's no need to stop the performance.

Loop Recording using an external source

The Kaossilator Pro provides line inputs and a mic input, allowing loop recording using an external audio source. This makes it easy to add a rap, vocal, or audio from an external device to any loop phrase created on the Kaossilator Pro.

USB + MIDI provides versatility and compatibility

The Kaossilator Pro offers standard MIDI IN/OUT connectors. In addition, the USB connector lets you use your computer to back up the loop recording data, or even drop loops into your favorite DAW. The Kaossilator Pro can also control your software applications or an external MIDI device. The Kaossilator Pro can send or receive MIDI clock.

Convenient SD Card* data storage

The Kaossilator Pro provides an SD card slot for storing loop data and user settings such as program memories. Favorite phrases can be saved to build up a collection of loop data that will inspire your musical arrangements. SD Card storage also allows you to create the same show with the same loops, night after night. You can also swap loops with other Kaossilator Pro users, or use your data in multiple units.

* not compatible with SDHC cards and SDXC cards.

Dedicated Editor / Librarian Software

Kaossilator Pro Editor is a dedicated software program for managing your recorded loop data, as well as MIDI assignment editor functionality that lets you transform the Kaossilator Pro into a powerful MIDI controller that's set up just the way you want. Kaossilator Pro Editor can be downloaded free of charge from the Korg website.

Sound:
The Kaossilator Pro is one of the most versitile and expressive pieces of equipment that i own or have ever played with. You can play around with it in itself all day, or you can loop acapellas and samples through the line in. once youve done that you can then proceed on to screwing the line in still only using the kaossilator. It is a synth, beat machine, loop recorder, line in sound effect box, and so much more.
Feature:
One of the coolest things about the kaossilator was the U bank effects. to use these effects you have to loop something through the line in, from there you can make whatever is being loop through completely your own. you can drop pitch, distort the sound, phase it or even chop and screw it to make a bead out of the line in alone. The only thing that gets me is that you start with an 8 beat loop, but can only strtch it to a 16 beat loop. this for a long time felt like somewhat of a sacrifice untill i got over the face that it is a looping and beat making machine not an 8track recorder. :P
Ease of Use:
A 2 year old could play it. You can either lay a finger on the pad and let it work its own magic through a few premade loops, or you can start from scratch and mimic almost any sound out there or create all the music you hear in your head. Though very easy to use, more complex creations can take a little bit of practice to get it perfect.
Quality:
TANK TANK TANK TANK TANK!!! This thing is freakin amazingly made! I have dropped it from wait height a few times now when things were getting a little crazy, and not even a scratch or dent. I have had mine for about a year now and it looks pretty much exactly the same as when i took it out of the box. I think this is really saying something especially considering that I am a college student who is always on the move.
Value:
It is a Sampler, a midi, a synth, drum machine, loop machine, line in emulator and so much more and its almost HALF THE PRICE of any of those pieces of equipment are individually. AMAZING VALUE! Trust me, you can do it youself, go to any big music retailer and go to their synths room. I can almost guarantee that nothing will compare to capability factor and the price.
Manufacturer Support:
Never had to use them, any question I had was explained very clearly in the owner manuel. Then again i would never expect anything less than awsome service from KORG.
The Wow Factor:
I can happily and easily say that i would get rid of any other machine that i have to the kaossilator. It is a very sleek and sexy machine that feels like a rave in your hands. I sat inside of a Sam Ash and a Guiar Center retailer for at least 10 hours easy and nothing came close to comparing. I am a college student so i dont have too much money to play around with to begin with. But after studying like all good college students should do, hah, and doing alot of hands on research, it was clear as day that the kaossolator had to be my next investment. I BOUGHT THIS THING BEFORE AN IPAD!!
Overall:
Endless possibilities. I have been playing with it for a year and still have no problem picking it up and creating amazing sounds and music that i have never made before. It can and will and has stood up to countless college parties which it has taken a fair beating from but still looks and performs just as good as day one! The price is simply amazing, and the the sound quality overall is beats worthy.

Thank you. Your vote has been counted. Could you briefly tell us why the review was or was not helpful?

Korg Kaossilator Pro Customer Review

Sound:
It sounds great!
Feature:
It does it all, the mic line in is great you can run just about anything into it.
Ease of Use:
I had beats and loops going straight out of the box!
Quality:
This thing is made like a tank.
Value:
For everything this little box can do it's a great value
Manufacturer Support:
Never had to use them, so I don't know.
The Wow Factor:
Sleek, laid out perfect!
Overall:
I think I can use this in every application of music that I do.

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